MARGAO: CQS Veteran Dynamites were crowned champions of the Sarsangan T20 GSB Veterans leather ball cricket tournament organised by Saraswat Sports Sangh Charitable Trust beating Salcete Veteran Stallions by two wickets, at the MCC ground, Margao recently.
Electing to bat in the final, Salcete Veteran Stallions were rocked at the start by a tidy opening spell, losing two wickets at the score of 10. A 30-run partnership between Yogesh Naik (17) and Prashant Amonkar (12) steadied the innings but Sunil Kakodkar broke the spine of the Salcete middle order picking 3 wickets off his 3 overs, reducing the Stallions to 49-5 in 10.1 overs. When Rasik Pai Khot (11) fell at the score of 64, it looked like Stallions would fold up soon. However, Vinay Sambari (36 runs, 2x4s and 2x6s) and wicket keeper Laxmikant Kurade (37 runs, 5x4s, 1x6s) combined together to add 74 runs for the seventh wicket in 45 balls to take the Salcete Veteran Stallions to 145/7 in 20 overs. Sunil Kakodkar (3-8), Sanjiv Sukhthankar (1-17), Raghuvir Kuncolienkar (1-18) & Balkrishna Hodarkar (1-29) were the successful bowlers for the Dynamites.
Chasing 146, CQS Veteran Dynamites were reduced to 19-3 in the third over as Dynamites’ Sandeep Dalal ran amock at the top order with some fiery pace bowling with the new pink ball. However the old war horses, Prasad Bhende (30 runs, 1x4s) and Mahesh Kudchadkar (31 runs, 5x4s) stitched a 66 run partnership for the fourth wicket in 56 balls to mend the innings. A fine burst of good bowling by Yogesh Naik and some great heroics by wicket keeper Laxmikant Kurade, behind the stumps brought the Stallions back in contention as the Dynamites slipped to 97-6. Just as the doctor ordered, Girish Bene (22 runs, 15 balls) stood up and ran amock for the Stallions, adding 21 with Satyesh Kamat (12 runs in14 balls) and later Sarvesh Kamat (16 runs, 9 balls) to seize the momentum. With the Dynamites needing 12 runs, Sandep Dalal sent Girish Bene off the last ball of the penultimate over. Needing 12 off the last over, Sarvesh Kamat hit two boundaries off the Stallions’ skipper Sudesh Prabhudesai to seal the match and the fate of the Stallions, winning by 2 wickets with a ball to spare. Sandeep Dalal was the pick of the bowlers picking 4-24 and was ably supported by Yogesh Naik 2-12. Sudesh Prabhudesai was the most expensive of the bowlers picking 1-37.
Sagar Salgaocar was the chief guest and gave away the prizes in the presence of Prasad Ghode and the dignitaries. CQS Veteran Dynamites received the winners trophy while the Salcete Veteran Stallions were content with the first runners up trophy.
Tiswadi, Antruz, Bhatagram Veteran, Saraswat Royals and Mapusa Veteran Dream Crushers were awarded the second runners up trophies.
